Chapter 134: From Vacation to Survival Challenge

“I mean, your sudden change in attitude toward me since you came to the crew has been really baffling. What exactly is your purpose? Do you want me to pay back the money quickly? Or have you found another woman outside and want a divorce?”

Su Wan Ning had always been straightforward, but recently, Qin Jing Chen’s arrival had disrupted her usual ease on the show.

She had wanted to clarify things before, but various mishaps had always interrupted her. This time, Su Wan Ning was determined to get things clear with Qin Jing Chen.

Qin Jing Chen looked into Su Wan Ning’s eyes. She had a pair of perfectly shaped phoenix eyes, the outer corners slightly upturned, which, even when expressionless, seemed to conceal endless charm.

Before, Qin Jing Chen had disliked those eyes. They seemed too mischievous, full of hidden thoughts.

But at some point, his feelings had quietly shifted. Every aspect of Su Wan Ning began to captivate him deeply, an inexplicable attraction that arose even through the screen and the internet.

“I—”

Qin Jing Chen took a deep breath and was about to speak clearly when a plaintive call came from behind.

“Mom.”

Su Wan Ning immediately looked up, glancing past him toward Su Sui and Su Nian Nian down the corridor.

“What’s wrong?”

Nian Nian’s lips drooped, her little brows furrowed as if she had suffered a grave injustice, her tiny finger pointing accusingly at the expressionless Sui Sui beside her.

“Big brother is bullying me!”

Su Wan Ning couldn’t help but laugh.

The bond between these two children had always been strong. Even before Su Wan Ning appeared, the siblings had depended on each other, with Sui Sui diligently fulfilling his role as the older brother, always taking good care of Nian Nian.

This was the first time she had heard of a conflict between them.

At that moment, the cameraman seized the opportunity to quietly turn the camera back toward them.

Su Wan Ning, amused, asked with interest, “Tell Mom, how did he bully you?”

Nian Nian pointed to the assembled puzzle toy on the small table, a gift from the flight attendants when they boarded the plane.

“I asked big brother to help me put together a cake, but he made it into a little car instead!”

Following Nian Nian’s finger, Su Wan Ning saw a brightly colored small car on the table, crafted so vividly that even the steering wheel and seats were detailed.

She glanced at the nearby box, on which was an illustration of a teddy bear.

These siblings truly were full of creativity and ideas.

Clearing her throat, Su Wan Ning began to mediate: “Whose toy is this?”

Nian Nian answered crisply, “It’s mine!”

“You gave it to your big brother to help you build a cake, and he agreed, right?”

“Mm-hmm!” Nian Nian nodded repeatedly in quick, eager motions, her eyes filled with admiration for Su Wan Ning.

She even got up from her seat and ran over to Su Wan Ning, nestling into her lap.

“Mom, that’s exactly it! You guessed right!” she said, as if drawing a clear line between herself and her brother.

Meanwhile, Sui Sui, sitting silently nearby, remained expressionless, as if none of this concerned him. His calm demeanor was like a smaller, muted version of Qin Jing Chen sitting next to Su Wan Ning.

Su Wan Ning couldn’t help but marvel at the power of genetics. When she had just questioned Qin Jing Chen, his face had worn the same expression as Sui Sui’s now.

She then asked Sui Sui, “You promised your sister you’d help make the cake. Why did it end up as a car?”

Sui Sui answered succinctly, “Missing parts.”

Understanding, Su Wan Ning nodded and explained to her daughter in her arms, “Because there were no parts, big brother made it into a car instead. He didn’t mean to go back on his promise.”

Nian Nian looked conflicted.

“But I still want a cake,” she said.

At this, Qin Jing Chen, who had been silent, spoke up: “Is it because you want to eat cake, Nian Nian?”

Nian Nian shook her head, a bit shy, burying her face in Su Wan Ning’s arms.

“Because Daddy’s birthday is coming soon, and I want to give you a cake.”

Su Wan Ning blinked in surprise and glanced toward the man beside her.

She had never paid attention to Qin Jing Chen’s birthday before and hadn’t realized it was so soon.

Qin Jing Chen was clearly surprised as well. He reached out to gently touch his daughter’s soft hair and said softly, “If it’s your gift, why did you ask your brother to make it for you?”

Nian Nian whispered, “I don’t know how.”

Su Wan Ning found this both amusing and touching.

“Well, how about this? When we get home, you can draw a cake for Daddy with your paintbrush, okay?”

At these words, Nian Nian’s eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously in Su Wan Ning’s arms. “Okay, okay, what a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that before? Big brother, I forgive you!”

[Nian Nian is such a little sweetheart.]

[This must be a little princess; even when spoiled and willful, she’s so adorable.]

[But why did Su Wan Ning look so surprised just now? Doesn’t she know her husband’s birthday?]

This comment was even read aloud by the host. Then, turning to Su Wan Ning with a smiling gaze, he asked again in a low voice, “Is that so?”

Su Wan Ning blinked, embarrassed enough to wish she could dig a hole and hide inside the plane. She quickly raised her voice and shook her head, “Of course not. I definitely remember your birthday. I haven’t forgotten!”

“That’s good.”

Qin Jing Chen nodded and continued, “It’s not often we get a chance to celebrate your and the kids’ birthdays together. I’m really looking forward to it.”

[Qin Jing Chen practically has ‘give me a gift’ written all over his face.]

[Poor Qin Jing Chen.]

[I even suspect Qin Jing Chen secretly transfers money to Su Wan Ning, begging her to buy him a present. Just imagining that is hilarious.]

Their earlier conversation was interrupted by the children’s laughter and play. As the plane prepared to land, Su Wan Ning didn’t press further, and Qin Jing Chen silently filed away her earlier question, frowning inwardly.

Where exactly had things gone wrong? Why did Su Wan Ning have such misunderstandings about him?

After the plane touched down, Qin Jing Chen’s assistant received a message notifying him that his entire monthly bonus would be withheld.

The assistant wailed in despair, unable to figure out what mistake he had made, but dared not ask, quietly swallowing his frustration.